Steam trap



0 9 6, 0 5 5, l F F o G D. L n W .MW 9 1.. mi FD, ....f 2 m .9 u A STEAM TRAP Filed Aug. 29, 192g f R. l /e'amv/Ig/I/Ebmoff 35i/'6% ATTORNEYS.

Emiliaan autori aus Tierra-Waar raam arcor/n am.

LEONARD D.

FFICE GOFF, OF THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN, ASSGNQR T0 ARIWSTRONG MACHINE WORKS, OF THREE RIVERS, MICtlG-AN.

STEAM TRAP.

Application filed August 29, 1922.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD D. Golm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Three Rivers, county of St. Joseph, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam traps.

The object of the invention is to provide in connection with a float steam trap an improved means of insuring the discharge of air from such a trap and at the same time insure that the steam shall be trapped.

The invention in its principal form is an improvement and addition to the structure of the Patent No. 1,309,604, issued to Adam E. Armstrong, dated July 15, 1919. The invention is, however, adapted for use on steam traps generally.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will del'initely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The inventionis clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. I is a detail vertical sectional view through a steam trap embodying the features of my invention, showing the compound float and lever construction of the said Patent No. 1,309,604, with my improvements added thereto.

Fig. II is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on a line corresponding to line 2*-2 of Fig. I, showing the particular arrangement and disposition of my addition to such structure and illustrating the action thereof by dotted lines.

Fig. lll is a plan view of one of the thermostatic metal strips made use of by me.

Fig. IV is a detail view of my improvements as applied to a simpler form of steam trap, the upper portion being in section to show details.

Fig. V is a plan View, slightly enlarged, of the float and valve of such simpler and modilied form.

Serial No. 584,981.

Fig. VI is a detail view of my invention as applied to an ordina-ry sealed float trap.

Fig. VH is a similar detail sectional view showing the same applied to another form of steam trap which is in commercial use in which the ioat is open at the top.

ln the drawing similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

rlihe parts of the drawing will be designated by their numerals of reference.

1 is the outer shell of my improved steam trap provided with a cover at the top 2 secured thereto in any usual well-known manner. 3 is the intake and 4 is the discharge therefrom. 5 is the inverted cup or bell. 9 and 10 are bracket arms within the casing to which are connected the compound lever 11 which connects the inverted cup float 5 to the valve 6. 7 is the seat for the valve and 3 is the valve casing, the valve stem 61 being of squared or cruciform cross section. Between the valve casing 8 and the lever connection l interpose two blades of thermostatic metal 12 and 13 having a. square hole 62 at the center which engages the valve stem 61. These pieces of metal may be coupled together at their opposite ends loosely by cotter pins 14, though such cotter pins are merely a matter of convenience for assembling and could, of course, be the exclusive means if the center holes in the thermostatic metal plates were round. rlhe blades 12 and 13 when cold are curved, as indicated by full lines in Fig. H. When they become heated as by steam or hot water they collapse to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. II.

rlhe thermostatic metal made use of is a metal or material made up of layers of metal or material having different coefficients of expansion.

A consideration of the operation of the structure will show definitely what is accomplished and the cooperating relation of the dierent parts.

rlhe bucket or float 5 hangs with its open end down directly over the inlet 3 which is centrally located in the bottom of the trap 1. rlfhe outlet of the trap 4 is at the top and therefore the body of the case must be full of water before any flows out.

With the bucket or float 5 in its lowest position the valve is open and water entering the trap Vflows iuto the open end oi the bucket or float, then all around the bottom and up through the valve. This will occur so longv as water enters the trap. Then the system. is drained oit' water steam enters the trap and will rise into the bucket or Afloat displacing the water which will flow out ci the discharge. Steam will accumulate in the bucket until the bucket becomes buoyant when it will quickly rise and close the valve, preventing' a tui-ther discharge. The bucket is so weighted that it will 'float when about three-quarters full ot steam.

Yiii/'heu the valve is closed the body ot the trap is full oi water and, Ahe bucket containing; steam, nothing;v can enter the trap until the volume ot the contents is reduced. This occurs by the condensation oi steam in the bucket. lllhen the steam condenses its volume becomes smaller and either steam or water enters the trap to take the place ot the steam condensed.

lt steam enters it merely rises in the bucket, takingl the place ot the condensed steam, and the valve is not opened. lt water enters it takes the place ot the condensed steam and thus the volume ot the steam in the bucket becomes smaller. As this volume reduces the buoyancy ot the bucket becomesl less until iinally the volume ot steam becomes so small that its buoyancy is overcome by the weicht oi the bucket which sinks to the bottom. lt then acts through the compound lever and pulls the valve 'from its seat, when the water will be quickly discharged until steam enters when, ot course, the lloat will again become buoyant and close the valve.

rllhis is the ordinary cycle otl operations but oftentimes air in considerable volume is present in the system or in the trap and ot course until the steam or hot water enters the same is comparatively cool. lt is desirable that this air should escape. l, there- "fore, interpose the curved thermostatic plates 1Q and l?) and they are ot sufficient strength to hold the i'loat down until they are acted upon by the heat ot the steam or hot water. lWhen they become heated they collapse together into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. ll, and the trap operates in the usual manner.

Cold air and cold water are allowed to escape until steam enters the trap. The float or bucket 5 has a small vent perforation 5i in the top which insures the discharge of air trom the iioat and also permits a small quantity of steam to escape which, however, is condensed by the cooler water.

l have described the preferred term but it is clear that the simplest form oit float valve in which no lever connection is provided tor actuating' the valve can be operated in this way. l

In Fig. lV, l illustrate such ay structure, where the valve is connected directly to the top oit an inverted bucket or bell 19, the valve 20 seating at 2l, all within the outer casing 22, which provided with an inlet 2&3 and a discharge 2%. A strip ot thermostatic metal 201 is disposed across the top ot the tloat and remains in the position indicated by tull lines until the heat oit the steam distorts it, permitting the valve 20 to seat. 'lhe plan ot the float ot this structure appears in Fig. V where the vent i9 and position ot the valve 2O are indicated.

ln Fg. Vi, l show the principle applied to an ordinary sealed float valve. rlhe float l5 is supported on strip ot thermostatic metal 1G secured at 17 to the bottom of the case 1S. This metal is ot such a character that when it is heated it is deflected to the position indicated by the dotted lines and the float allowed to drop and thus close the valve.

In Fig'. VH, l show the same applied to a well-known design of steam trap in which a bucket is provided to receive the water and the weight ot the water opens the valve to permit the discharge of the water. l here hold the bucket 8O in a depressed position by a strip ot thermostatic metal 31 rigidly secured at 32 to the pipe leading troni the valve, these parts being` disposed within the Vmain casing' 33. rlhese are well-known terms ot construction and are illustrative ot the broad principle that l have developed.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. lu a steam trap, the combination of a, main casing, an outlet valve therefor, an inverted bell-shaped float with a small vent in its top. a1 compound lever means connecting the said valve to the said iloat, and opposed pieces ol'v thermostatic metal disposed within the casing; in position to hold the Valve depressed and open until acted upon by heat whereby he valvel acts to close the discharge in a normal manner when heated and also is held in open position when cold and until the parts become heated thus insuring,` the discharge of water and air, coacting as speci- Vlied.

2. ln a steam trap, the combination of ai main casing'` an outlet valve therefor, an inverted bell-shaped float with a small vent in its top connected to actuate said valve, op posed pieces ci thern'iostatic metal disposedv within the casing' in position to hold the valve. depressed and open. until acted upon by heat whereby the valve acts to close the discharge in a normal manner when heated and also is held in open position when cold and until the parts become heated, thus insuringr the discharge of water and air, coactinp; as specified.

ln a ste-am trap, the combination of a main casing, an outlet Valve therefor, an inverted bell-shaped iioat With a small Vent in its top connected to actuate said Valve, thermostatic metal disposed Within the casing and arranged to act upon the said Valve mechanism to hold said valve in open position until heated whereby the Valve acts to7 close the discharge in a normal manner When heated and remain open When cold, thus insuring the discharge oi"- Water and air, coacting as specified.

4. ln a steam trap, the combination of a main casing, a valve therefor, an inverted bell-shaped float with a small vent in its top, compound lever means connecting the said Valve to the said float, thermostatic metal disposed Within the casing and arranged to act upon the said valve mechanism to hold said Valve in o-pen position until heated whereby the Valve acts to close the discharge in a normal manner When heated and remain open When-cold, thus insuring the dislchrge of Water and air, coacting as speci- 5. In a steam trap, the combination of a main casing, an outlet Valve therefor, a float controlling the said valve suitably connected thereto, therm-ostatic metal disposed Within the casing and arranged to act upon the said Valve to hold it in open position against the action of said ioat While cold and to aliow the Valve to close the discharge When heated, as specified.

In Witness whereof' l have hereunto set my hand.

LEONARD D. GOFF. 

